GAME REPORT COMING

Napoleonic Action in the Peninsula

Well, it's been nearly a month since I've posted.  Just wanted to get a quick one in to show that I'm still here for the few followers who might be interested.  Returned to work amidst the pandemic this month, which has been both very challenging as well as consuming.  I've done some hobby tinkering, but haven't done much, and had very little energy left for blogging.  However, there has been a major development: I actually played a face to face game at my friend Mark's (of Mark D's Wargaming Blog), who graciously invited me over to his place. This was my first non virtual, real toy soldier game since February, something of a landmark--and even better since I took the day off from work for it.  It was both a return to the familiar but also a "different" experience playing again after so long, and still in the midst of this pandemic (although we were both safe).  We christened some of his new figures in a Napoleonic Skirmish set in the Peninsula--something we had played at his place in August two years previously, coincidentally (I guess this means that August is Napoleonic skirmish month for us).  Things remain busy at work, and I've got a spot of carpal tunnel going on that is hampering my keyboarding, but I hope to provide a game report in the next week.

    I will add a post-script here.  This is my first post using the new interface, and I'm glad that it is a brief one.  Change is always an adjustment, but I'm not taking a liking to the new dashboard and the stuff it brings. I don't understand the penchant for change for it's own sake in the computer/IT world.  When you're always screwing with a learning curve, it doesn't matter what the bells and whistles are--particularly if you don't need them.   My career(s) in three different sectors over my lifetime have taught me that being totally fluent in a less sophisticated platform is much more efficient--and produces a much better product--than operating in a fog in something new and shiny (harumph!).

 

POST POST SCRIPT:  After putting up this post, I noticed that my blog is not showing among the list of blogs with new posts on other blogs.  I haven't noticed that any of the blogs I'm following are not updating on my blog (ie, they seem to be updating fine--the thumbnail issue is separate).  So I'm wondering if this is a bug that has something to do with the new interface (some setting that changed without my knowing it: I haven't changed any of my settings myself)--and I'm also wondering if anyone else has noticed this happening with other blogs?  I'd appreciate it especially if any of the bloggists out there who may have my blog among their blog lists are seeing what I'm seeing (or should I say, not seeing what I'm seeing--ie, that this blog had a new post).  Thanks!

 

   Excelsior!

OF ALL BASE PASSIONS, REBASING IS THE MOST MOST ACCURSED

 Pikes in progress: part of the great rebasing project

(Apologies to the Bard, Henry VI, Part I [V. II. 18] for the title of this post)

Greetings fellow shut ins (well, here in the US, many of us are still in shut in mode).  Like many others, one of my aims for this extended lockdown period has been to put a dent in the lead mountain, and also to give the toy-related detritus a good sort and clean out.  I've already completed my first goal, painting up my Romanians, and I've now moved on to the clean out in the form of a major rebasing project that I've been putting off. Specifically, I've accumulated a goodly number of painted 28mm Thirty Years War figures via ebay and other sources over the last few years.  Time to do what I've been avoiding: rebasing them. For those who really have time on their hands, you can check out my related post on basing figures. Moving on to the here and now, in this post, as usual, you may clix pix for BIG PIX.

For starters, I began with this unit of dragoons, which is double the fun because there is a dismounted figure for each mounted one.  The cavalry bases are 1" x 2" and the infantry bases are 1" circulars.  In the days when I first started this collection, I hand painted numbers on all of the pegs, and so for consistency still do so today.  This has given me a great appreciation for the calligrapher's art (which I stink at).  Nevertheless, I assauge myself by imagining that what my crude numerical renditions lack in style is made up for in their rustic charm (that's my story and I'm sticking with it!).  I should add that this marking and basing scheme is intended to allow me to use these figures for a variety of systems. Let me digress for a moment to explain those prior to moving on....

This basing scheme will fit into my Smalle Warre 17th Century skirmish system, which employs units of 10 to 12 individually mounted figures, identified by  color coded pegs on the back (and upon reviewing my page for this system, I see that I need to add a few lines of clarification  to the rules). A game report on this system can be found on this blog for the curious. These same basing conventions and figure counts will allow me to also use this collection for a number of  "company level" systems such as the Pikeman's Lament,  Irregular Wars, Terra Incognita, and the Perfect Captain's ECW and Spanish Fury Actions systems.

I can also use these figures at the man-to-man level, with each figure having individual statistics (wounds, etc, etc).  I have run multiple games  using a home grown rules system for this level, but have yet to publish it on this blog (the next project!). 

 Next up are the pikes: five units of 12 each (not counting command figures)

Given that in my system pikes would be more limited than musketeers and other foot and have to be deployed in  geometric formations, I decided to mount these both more closely than 1" per figure and on multi-figure stands. So I mounted these 12 figure units on  2, four figure stands (each 1" x 2") and 1, 2 figure stand (1"x 1").  

This configuration gives me the flexibility to show a 2-rank configuration without having an odd stand of four in the back (if all were on 4 figure bases), as  well as facilitating the more standard 3-rank configuration. In addition, it allows for "making change" should a full stand of 4 loses 2 figures.

I also have command figures for each unit (should I need them).  These are on 1" x 1" squares.  

Given that the pikes won't be employed as individuals, I'll dispense with the numbers and pegs and instead just have a colored square on the back (eventually).  In addition, each unit has a unifying "highlight" color (the Orange pike to the right and the Yellow to the left).  In connection with adding the highlight color, any rebasing project I go into also tends to include some level of repainting in order add these kinds of touches and to make the figs consistent with the collection in general (yes: when I pay for painted figures, I almost always wind up repainting them--some more than others--too; makes no sense and makes perfect sense all at the same time).  Next up will be applying the wood filler to each base (the most time consuming bit) and then the marking and flocking operation. When I'm done with this batch of 80+ figures, it will be on to the next ones in the queue...

 ...a unit of reiters and a unit of musketeers...

 ...another unit of musketeers...

 ...a unit of cuirassiers plus a contingent of Petardiers and Engineers...

 ...and a parcel of Scots (musketeers, pikes, cannoneers, and leaders).

Lets' see if I can complete this project before they come out with a COVID 19 vaccine!

Excelsior!

VIRTUAL CONFERENCE OF WARGAMERS (VCOW) 2020: SERIOUS FUN

 

 "Eye Candy" From the VCOW

Greetings, fellow shut-ins!  This is just a quick post to report on an excellent--and unprecedented--hobby experience I had this last weekend.  As an inveterate rules tinkerer and home rules writer, I have been an on and off member (via subscription) of the excellent UK based Wargames Developments for the last few years.  Each year, this longstanding group in the UK has been convening a Conference of Wargames to discuss game theory and design, play games, and socialize.  

Like most events, the pandemic curtailed any such gathering this year. However, the organizers moved the conference online (mainly via Zoom), making it the Virtual Conference of Wargamers (VCOW).  Suddenly, what had been out of the question became plausible: attending this event in the UK.  The only barrier (outside of a modest registration fee) would be the time zone difference (which did catch me up once). 

WHAT I DID: I attended the following sessions:

Friday:  

Welcome (Tim Gow)

Wargames: What and Why (Peter Perla)

Professional and Hobby Wargaming (Mark Herman)

Saturday:

Remote Wargaming (David Burden)

Wargaming & History  (Prof Gary Sheffield)

Defense and Recreational Wargaming (Graham Longley-Brown)

Sunday:

Adventures in Lockdown  (Mike Elliott)

I had intended to do one more session on Sunday, but my alarm failed me and I did not rise soon enough to make it for the 4:30 am start time here in Eastern Standard Time in the US.

Although there were opportunities for interaction during these talks, and the company was most cordial, I found myself mainly following along and just taking things in.  In short, I found that spending the weekend in a new (to me) community of gamers, talking gaming,  listening to talking about gaming, and looking forward to the next session about gaming, was a great boost to my wargaming mojo.  I both congratulate and thank the organizers and presenters of the VCOW!

WHAT I LEARNED: All the discussions of remote gaming brought home that maintaining the human/social element of the hobby--via Zoom and other means--had been (and continues to be) of primary importance, whether that be through distant gaming or just via connecting with colleagues and friends.  I know that in my club here in the US, for instance, there are some who have managed to do some remote gaming.  However, the "main event" has become weekly zoom get together on Sunday.  In this session, which can last anywhere from 1 to 2 hours, we just go around to each and do a "show and tell"--and chat in general from there.  This has been going on since March, and has become something of a new tradition, one that I suspect we'll probably be maintaining in some fashion into the future, post pandemic.  

WHERE WE ARE GOING: On the larger scale, I think the VCOW and similar events are a first step in opening up new dimensions in the hobby, and not just for remote gaming. In the same way that we tend to follow and comment on blogs of interest, and meet like minded people in those places, I could see those connections expanding into opportunities for virtual gatherings for "show and tell," information sharing, or any number of things.  

WHERE WE WANT TO RETURN: The promise of the Brave New World of virtual gatherings aside,  I think we are all still are looking forward to the very retro pleasures of pushing actual toy soldiers on a table and shouting gleefully at other fellows in the room,  sans mask. 

Excelsior!